All that is cursed collates and surrounds with every step taken deeper into the intoxicating dark as Uppsala, Sweden-based doom metal trio ACOLYTES OF MOROS invite us to their realm of shadows via this impressive sophomore full-length album. A double album in four longform acts ‘Sphere of Adversity‘ finds the band still rooted in the revivalist traditional doom metal mindset of the 2000’s as they explore extreme and atmospheric inspiration which carries us to through the underworld depicted. Taking their expression to a new and far more distinct headspace in the process of endarkenment these folks have done well to take command of what is most unique about their craft and lean into it within deeply detailed, thoughtfully struck doom metal pieces.

Acolytes of Moros formed circa 2011 as guitarist Simon Carlsson (Inception) joined bassist/vocalist HCF (Abysmal Winds) and drummer Rasmus Jansson, both of whom had been founding/early members of underrated necro-doom band Anguish, for the sake of creating their own form of traditional doom metal with a unique atmosphere to it. The endpoint of Reverend Bizarre in the mid-to-late 2000’s was key to developing their voicing for this idea, taking that level of dramatic longform, slow-droning pieces behind idiosyncratic vocals, as we’d find on their first demo (‘Your Fate is Sealed‘, 2011). This was essentially their foundational medium, a canvas that has served them well through variously ambitious twists upon the format, taking increasingly darker turns with it in every case. The ‘Illusions of Progress‘ (2013) EP that followed largely caught my ear at the time as I’d been a fan of Anguish‘s ‘Through the Archdemon’s Head‘ the year prior and figured their take on doom metal would be similarly dark. Granted there’d been no mistaking their main points of inspiration at that point but it was a fine release which’d carefully introduced variety within each of its three main songs.

Signaling their readiness for a full-length, a rehearsal demo tape (‘Herald of the Imminent‘, 2015) previewed what was basically Side B on Acolytes of Moros‘ debut LP (‘The Wellspring‘, 2018) and this is naturally our main consideration for precedence and overall gauge for what’s to come. It was also an especially fine album speaking to disillusionment, existential dread, and an altogether lost feeling as they’d expanded their repertoire to include more freely moving rhythms which’d been hastily compared to the first Warning album to some degree. These long, wandering (but not stochastic) pieces were immersive and deeply sombre compared to their perceived contemporaries at the time, of which there were few, and generally realized the vison behind their formative years. The standard was set high enough though their sound and modus had proven more memorable than their songs at that point.

A profound darkness has settled over their realm as we are greeted by a more direct presence as soon as ‘Sphere of Adversity‘ has cracked through its first shambling bassline. A sense of subject arrives with a deadpan glare as opener “Salient Candour” broods and crackles with influences pulled from black and death metal for its atmosphere and even some harsher vocals at its apex. This piece is eerily engaging not only for its emotionally revved verses and extended rhythmic tangents but the dismal psychedelic doom fusion that happens as it concludes. The harsher vocals are a brilliant inclusion here, adding a sense of severity to their words and extra impact the song wouldn’t have had otherwise per its tonal range. Per my own experience this is a rare occasion where this works thanks to HCF‘s sense of placement in line with the story told.

The other half of this first disc/LP, “Shadowlands”, bears a bellowed Albert Witchfinder-esque possession to its vocals as they (both HCF and ex-Anguish vocalist J. Dee) carry on through the first of two ~27 minute pieces, once again incorporating an almost blackened or dark metal destination within their movements. I’d particularly liked the sea-change around ~10:15 minutes in, another dabble into extremes which sustains a melodic line while also incorporating more of the double bass drumming steps found on “Salient Candour” prior. Though these are demanding pieces for their length the inventive dramatism conjured is effective in delivering the atmosphere of the work in each of its longform scenarios; A sort of madness begins to set in over the course of the album and reaches a narrative peak within “Invisible Shackles”, another particularly intense vocal track which features a more heavy rock lean to its more volatile moments and an extended break for a droning bassline to slowly release at its mid-point. The second half of the song features an exceptional cathedralesque organ section ~ from Third Storm/ex-Anguish guitarist David Eriksson, a funereal end to the madness at hand.

The mood is low as possible and a sense of finality had arrived with “Invisible Shackles” so, much like “Venerate the Dead” on ‘The Wellspring‘, “Establish Dominance” brings a much needed change in tone, or, energy on the way out per the steadily buzzing lift of its rhythms. The payoff for the very slow rouse of this song ends up being exasperated, sort of shouted vocals which make their peace after about a minute or two. This is probably the least necessary point of excess on the album, finishing with a song that is more of an uphill jam than the rest of what Acolytes of Moros have brought. It also extends the length of the full listen to nearly an hour between the four songs and while this doesn’t have any effect on my overall interest it’d fared better when I was distracted, inebriated or not listening so intently; The full listen is not so outsized that it’d discourage regular spins though I’d definitely found myself hitting the pause button on a regular basis outside of more relaxed weekend enjoyment.

All that one’d expect from a sophomore LP is here, a certain level of additional personalization is achieved right at the cusp of a paradigm shift yet the core identity of the band is unchanged, enriched by theme and experience. Greeting the latest, darker still vision of Acolytes of Moros was always a pleasure on my part as I’d end up anticipating the shifting sands of each longform piece and enjoying their incorporation of more extreme sounds along the way. Though the finale wasn’t all that grand for my own taste the overall effect of ‘Sphere of Adversity‘ is an above average feat in balance of emotionally disturbed gravitas and keen serpentine doom metal grooves, rhythms which serve each song’s individual microcosm unto its own. Much as I’d enjoyed their debut this album stands out in mind as a fresh point of mastery in their greater intent and a fine example of a dark hand serving the doom metal tradition in droves. A high recommendation.

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